Europe

The Directive sets out the criteria for issuing a residence permit to victims of trafficking, which includes that they have shown a clear intention to co-operate with the authorities. The Directive also stipulates that trafficked people should be informed of "the possibility of obtaining this residence permit and be given a period in which to reflect on their position. This should help put them in a position to reach a well-informed decision as to whether or not to co-operate with the competent authorities".

Member states will provide trafficked people with subsistence, access to emergency medical treatment and attend to the special needs of the most vulnerable during a reflection period. Where a government considers that a trafficked person does meet the criteria for a residence permit then this will be issued for at least six months. Residence permit holders should be authorised to access the labour market, vocational training and education according to rules set out by national governments.

All EU states were obliged to bring their national law into line with the Directive before 6 August 2006, except those, like the UK, which have negotiated an "opt out" from this type of EU legislation.

Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of), Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Slovenia, Ukraine, United States of America

The Convention is the first international treaty on crimes committed via the Internet and other computer networks, dealing particularly with infringements of copyright, computer-related fraud, child pornography (see for details article 9) and violations of network security. It also contains a series of powers and procedures such as the search of computer networks and interception. Its main objective, set out in the preamble, is to pursue a common criminal policy aimed at the protection of society against cybercrime, especially by adopting appropriate legislation and fostering international co-operation.

The Council of Europe Convention Against Trafficking in Human Beings

Entered into force on February 1, 2008

To date, the Convention has been ratified by Albania, Armenia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Georgia,  Latvia, Malta, Moldova, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Bulgaria and has been signed by 22 other CoE member states:  Andorra,  Belgium,  Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,  Italy,  Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

Chapter II - Prevention, co-operation and other measures
Chapter III - Measures to protect and promote the rights of victims, guaranteeing gender equality
Chapter V - Investigation, prosecution and procedural law
Chapter VII - Monitoring mechanism

On 1 February 2008, the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, the first European treaty in this field, entered into force. This is a significant achievement and a major step forward in the fight against this modern form of slavery. This new Convention is a comprehensive treaty focussing mainly on the protection of victims of trafficking and the safeguard of their rights. It also aims to prevent trafficking and to prosecute traffickers. In addition, the Convention provides for the setting up of an effective and independent monitoring mechanism (GRETA) capable of controlling the implementation of the obligations contained in the Convention. The Convention is not restricted to CoE member states; non-member states and the European Community also have the possibility of becoming Party to the Convention.